What's happening at Willard Library for Juneteenth in Battle Creek?
Willard Library, 7 W. Van Buren St., Battle Creek, will host a Juneteenth celebration on Thursday, June 19, at 5 p.m. in the programming room.
According to a community announcement, local author J.R. Reynolds will present 'Profiles in Perseverance: The Freedom Seekers and Freedom Fighters Who Helped Build Battle Creek.' The event will focus on stories of resilience within Battle Creek's Black community.
Reynolds will highlight notable figures, including doctors Carl and Donna Powell, Viola Johnson, and classical performing artist Mattie Robbins Willis. Audience members will have the opportunity to share their own reflections and memories of those featured.
Find out how to sign up: Willard Library's summer reading kickoff has fun for the whole family
More news: Need an advanced directive? Oaklawn Hospital offers help, answers health care questions
On Friday, June 20, at noon, the library will hold a workshop discussing the book 'The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict.' Participants will explore how true liberation is reflected in communities and relationships. The workshop will focus on the book's core message, emphasizing the importance of viewing others as people rather than obstacles.
The celebration continues on Saturday, June 21, with the Juneteenth Family Day Celebration at Claude Evans Park, 320 N. Washington Ave., Battle Creek, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees can visit Willard Library's booth for information about the Summer Reading program and upcoming library events.
Willard Library programs are free and open to the public. For more information, go to WillardLibrary.org or call 269-968-8166 ext. 513.
This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
We want your news: How to submit community announcements
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Juneteenth at Willard Library: Stories, workshops, and family fun
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
35 minutes ago
- CBS News
Juneteenth Fashion Show at Legacy West honors heritage and highlights rising talent
As the country prepares to celebrate Juneteenth, one North Texas fashion show is blending history with high style. At Legacy West in Plano, the annual Juneteenth Fashion Show is returning for its fourth year, celebrating Black designers, creativity, and the next generation of talent. For show host Leah Frazier, Juneteenth isn't just a holiday; it's an opportunity. "I've always had a passion for designers, and just fashion period," she said. Frazier's dream of merging fashion with heritage launched four years ago, bringing together local and national designers for a high-energy runway celebration. "Everything from streetwear, to formal, to business casual," she said of this year's lineup. "We have 14 designers in the fashion show. I try to keep it at a lower number, but it's impossible because we have so much talent here in the city." Among the participants are students from Cedar Hill High School's costume design program. Their assignment was to reinterpret the "First Freedom Dress," a nod to Sarah Tate, a woman freed in 1865 who sewed an all white dress to mark her emancipation. "We want you to look at this dress, and feel and embody Sarah Tate," Frazier said. "Then create your own emancipation dress that's modernized and contemporary to what she created." "It's been an amazing experience," said student designer Morgan Akins. "It's celebrating the history and culture of the holiday as well," she added. Student Nyilah McDaniel said there was no better feeling than seeing her finished pieces on the runway. "It's amazing watching all my finished products walk the runway and get the recognition," she said. Alongside the student work will be a tribute to Erykah Badu, a menswear collection inspired by the Met Gala, and more. "You are here to celebrate your culture," said Frazier. "We're here to celebrate each other, and it's just fun." A celebration of freedom, expression, and a future sewn with pride. The fashion show takes place on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Lexus Box Garden at Legacy Hall. Guests are encouraged to wear all white, honoring the tradition of the first Juneteenth celebrations in 1866.
Axios
37 minutes ago
- Axios
From Galveston to the Fillmore: The man who brought Juneteenth to SF
In 1945, Texas native Wesley Johnson Sr. donned his signature white Stetson cowboy hat and rode his white stallion through city streets, inviting passersby to join in Juneteenth festivities at his nightclub in the Fillmore. Why it matters: It marked the first of what would become one of the longest continuously running Juneteenth celebrations in America. Flashback: Johnson was born in Galveston, Texas, where Juneteenth celebrations began in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas learned about their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation. He moved to the city with his family as a teenager after World War I. After graduating from San Francisco State College (now SFSU), where he started one of the first student organizations for African Americans, he became a successful entrepreneur on the commercial corridor of the Fillmore, then known as the "Harlem of the West." Between the lines: Johnson, who ran the thriving jazz club Texas Playhouse and was later nicknamed the godfather of Juneteenth in San Francisco, wanted to put the city on the map as a hub for Black culture, freedom and community. Annual Juneteenth parades, which he led as grand marshal until the late 1980s, reflected that spirit and paid homage to their community's resilience. What they're saying:"Everybody came with this allure and this air of excellence and pride — and he would not have it any other way," Melina Jones, who has served on the committee for SF's Juneteenth parade and festival, said in a 2024 look back at Johnson's legacy for SFSU.
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
Celebrate Juneteenth in D.C. with festivals, music and history
Celebrate Juneteenth around D.C. with festivals, history and family-friendly gatherings. The big picture: Juneteenth — a new federal holiday marking the 1865 emancipation of enslaved people in Texas — has grown in popularity nationally amid Trumpian backlash. It's become a rich and history-steeped holiday in D.C. with ties to historic Black communities, special museum exhibits and plenty of music and culture. What's happening: 🎶 Backyard Band at Ivy City Smokehouse The go-go legends kick off the holiday with a Wednesday night show. 📍 Ivy City | ⏰ 9pm | 💵 $44 🎉 Scotland Juneteenth Festival Montgomery County's largest celebration honors Scotland's historic Black community with multiple days of events and a full-day festival on Thursday. 📍 Multiple locations | 📅 Ongoing through Thurs | 💵 Free 🗣️ Washington Revels in Old Town Thursday's two-part program features storytelling with David Olawuyi Fakunle and a Jubilee Voices concert of traditional songs and spirituals. 📍 Old Town Alexandria | 📅 Thurs, 1pm | 💵 Free 🌁 Anacostia Juneteenth Freedom Walk and Jubilee The Anacostia Renaissance Kollective is holding a freedom walk across 11th Street Bridge starting at 10am, continuing with activities in Anacostia. 📍 Anacostia | 📅 Thurs, 10am–5pm | 💵 Free 🎤 Juneteenth at National Harbor Festivities include a marketplace of Black creators, dancing, live music — and a waterfront screening of "Black Panther." 📍 National Harbor | 📅 Thurs | 💵 Free 📜 National Archives display See the original Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth order from 1865 — on view for just four days. 📍 Capitol Hill | 📅 June 19–22 | 💵 Free 🏛️ Mount Vernon "Freedom before Emancipation" programs, tours, and storytelling. A full Saturday of yoga, urban gardening, poetry, workshops, and live performances awaits at the Smithsonian museum.
